Throat Blockages (Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how regularly his safety research unit collects details from the rolling sample of 20 hospitals about the numbers of persons receiving hospital treatment in emergency and accident units in consequence of their throats and digestive tracts being blocked or otherwise impaired by various items; if he has received any such information in respect of the year 1983 in whole or part; and when the full figures for 1983 will become available.

Data from my Department's home accident surveillance system can be retrieved at any time. However, attempting this too early results in omission of all those cases where the patient is still in hospital and hence introduces considerable bias. The validated figures for 1983 will be available by the end of April. In the meantime my officials are attempting to produce provisional figures relating to blocking of throats and digestive tracts; these may well be subject to revision but I will communicate them to my hon. Friend as soon as they are available.